UPDATE: Suspect Identified In Fatal Shooting Of Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin DeRosier
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BY OPB STAFF / MOLLY SOLOMON
UPDATE, April 16, 2019:
On Monday, investigators identified the man who shot and killed a Cowlitz County Sheriff’s deputy as 33-year-old Brian Butts, the half brother of a man who killed another police officer eight years ago.
Deputy Justin DeRosier, 29, was killed Saturday night while responding to a complaint about a mobile home parked on Fallert Road in Kalama, Washington.
ORIGINAL STORY, April 15, 2019:
Authorities identified the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s deputy who was fatally shot while responding to a parking incident on a rural roadway Saturday night as 29-year-old Justin DeRosier.
Late Sunday night, the Sheriff’s department reported that officers had engaged near Spencer Creek Road in Kalama, Washington, with a person referred to as a suspect in the DeRosier shooting. That person died after shots were fired, and two others were jailed.
Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin DeRosier
A native of Kelso, Washington, DeRosier was a lifelong acquaintance of many members of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s office, Undersheriff Darren Ullmann said.
DeRosier leaves behind a wife and a 5-month-old daughter, Lily. He was described as a dedicated officer who had a bright future in law enforcement.
“There are few cops that who want to be a cop more than Justin did,” an emotional Cowlitz County Undersheriff Darren Ullmann told reporters during a press conference Sunday. “He loved his job. He was incredibly good at it. And as you can imagine, this is very personal for our agency.”
At a press conference Sunday afternoon, officials outlined what they know about Saturday’s shooting. DeRosier was responding to a parking complaint about a motorhome on Fallert Road, a few miles northeast of Kalama, Washington, at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. He was shot shortly after arriving on the scene at roughly 10:11 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office. DeRosier was transported via LifeFlight to PeaceHealth Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington. He was pronounced dead early Sunday morning while undergoing surgery at the hospital.
“It is devastating for all of us,” Cowlitz County Sheriff Brad Thurman told The Daily News Sunday. Thurman said DeRosier was the first officer killed in the line of duty in the office’s 165-year history.
“Our hearts go out to the family of the Cowlitz County deputy killed in the line of duty last night,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said in a tweet Sunday. “Every one of these tragedies is a reminder that these men and women put their lives on the line every day in service to us all.”
DeRosier graduated from Washington State University’s criminal justice program and previously worked for the Whitman County Sheriff’s office as a SWAT officer.
Investigators are asking anyone with information regarding the fatal shooting to contact Sergeant Todd Barsness with the Clark County Major Crimes Unit at 360-397-2020 or todd.barsness@clark.wa.gov.
Reporting by OPB staff, Molly Solomon. Additional reporting compiled from The Daily News and Associated Press.
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